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devondegenero
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Default Jun 29, 2020 at 09:07 PM
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Recently i found out i am having absence seizures. I think this could be related to my ptsd and the trauma im suffering throws me into a state of absence. I have blank stares for short periods of time, they last 15 to 30 seconds and are called absence seizures. If anyone has any experience with these please comment, thank you.
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amandalouise
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Default Jun 30, 2020 at 10:18 PM
  #2
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Originally Posted by devondegenero View Post
Recently i found out i am having absence seizures. I think this could be related to my ptsd and the trauma im suffering throws me into a state of absence. I have blank stares for short periods of time, they last 15 to 30 seconds and are called absence seizures. If anyone has any experience with these please comment, thank you.
yes I have it as part of my MS.

it is a medical condition similar to having epilepsy. the brain works by electrical impulses. sometimes these electrical impulses either go too fast, too slow or happen for no reason (this is called misfiring)

when the brain is misfiring electrical impulses a physical problem called seizures happen. sometimes the seizure is major (grand mal) where a person shakes, twitches, loses control of their bathrooming while unconsious, other times its less severe but with the same kind of symptoms (petit mal seizures) or very slight almost un notice able symptoms like staring , light twitching or fluttering. (absence seizures)

the good news is that absence seizures is a physical condition that is treatable with medication.

my suggestion continue working with your doctors and once you have the right medications you can be seizure free. I have been on a medication combo and have not had an absence seizure in almost a year. it took a while to find the right combo but well worth it.
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Default Jul 12, 2020 at 01:54 PM
  #3
My daughter began having absence seizures at age 9 and has continued to this day with now all types of seizures. It is essential to determine what the brain is doing at these moments.

A competent neurologist will first seek to "induce" an absence seizure during an office visit with rapid, short breaths for 2 minutes (hyperventilation) as a preliminary guide. If this results in a seizure (I've repeatedly observed my daughter seize this way), then you have enough data for most any insurance to cover an outpatient EEG.

During this painless procedure, they use several tools to activate the brain and then have actual photos of electrical activity. Sometimes absence are not the only type of seizures happening, and that can be unknown until this step. Then appropriate medication can be prescribed.

These steps do not usually have any influence over any concomitant psychological issues so those must be dealt with separately. However, of all childhood diseases, seizure disorders have the highest correlation with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression so it's critical to have a good psych evaluation also and have the 2 docs work together on medication and treatment.

Advances in anti-convulsant medications have occurred over the course of my daughter's disease that have allowed her to have a full and fulfilling life.

As a side note, at the worst of my flashbacks of childhood abuse, I had very short losses of awareness of time. Reports from others said I didn't seem unaware of my surroundings as my daughter was during her absence seizures. That's just an anecdotal observation and obviously would vary by individual with traumatic flashbacks. And that loss of time doesn't occur anymore, even when I'm having emotional or mini-flashbacks recently after years of no flashbacks at all (due to the recent death of my father).
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Default Jul 15, 2020 at 11:58 PM
  #4
This imformation has been very helpful and God bless your daughter. I'll ask my doctor and therapist to perform some cognitive test. Looking at some pictures and finding what triggers the siezures sounds like a good idea. Thank you
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